Boat light



y 1960 J. J. COLEMAN 2,938,109

son LIGHT Filed March 2a, 1958 km Jammy arbcj fiba rziic a, M

United BOAT LIGHT Filed Mar. 26,1958, Ser. No. 724,158

Claims. c1. 2404.5

This invention relates to boat lights and more particularly one which relates to a combination light and flag staff which may be easily plugged in for use and easily removed for storage.

Boat lights mounted atop a flag staff have found'widespread use. They are useful as a flag staff during the day and at night double as a boat light. A light mounted atop flag stalls is especiall'y useful since its elevated position allows'it to be visible for several miles. There have been several disadvantages attendant upon the use of such combination boat lights in that when they are not in use they tend to get in the way of ordinary boat use. They are also subject to being-tampered with and stolen when the boat is in mooring. 'Additionally when allowed to remain on the boat they become corroded, and the electrical system tends to deteriorate and become unreliable. It is an object of the invention to provide a combination flag stall and boat light mounted thereon which may be easily plugged in for use and demounted again when not in use.

It is a further object to provide such a combination light which will make a sliding, resilient, and therefore reliable, positive electrical contact when it is plugged into its socket. Another object is to provide a bracket and socket structure for such a light which securely supports the light staff.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the combination flag staff and light mounted atop the cabin of a small power boat;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view and its mounting bracket;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal end of the light and mounting bracket;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal electrical contact assembly;

Fig 5 is an end view of the terminal electrical contact assembly;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mounting bracket, and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 of the cylindrical socket formed by the involute edge of the mounting bracket.

The boat light as shown in Fig. 1 is mounted atop the cabin of a boat. However, it may be mounted at the stern or at any other proper location. The location preferably should be chosen to give the light the greatest possible elevation so that it may be visible at a greater distance.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a mounting bracket 1 having a flange 2 bent at substantially a right angle to the sidewall ofthe bracket which is adapted for being fa'fixed' to any horizontal surface-of a boat by means of screws seated through holes 3. The upper portion of the mounting bracket is bent to form a substantially cylinxiricalsocket 4. The length of the mounting socket should be atleast three times its internal diameter inworder to of the flag stafi light we Pa e 2,938,109 Patented May 24, 1960 provide a strong support for the removable assembly. Mounted in the lower end of the socket 4 is an electrical contact terminal assembly. This consists of a metal disk 6 having as a portion thereof a dependent lug 7 which is attached to thesocket wall 4 by means of a screw 8. One of the electrical leads is attached to the lug through aperture 9. Mounted over the metal disk 6 is an insulating disk 10 which is afiixed to the metal disk 6 by means of a metal grommet. 1 T he insulating disk 10 has a sleeve 11 which extends through an aperture in the metal disk 6 and prevents the grommet extending therethrough from making electrical contact with the metal disk. The sleeve 11 extends beyond the metal disk and supports a metal lug 12 to which the second electrical wire is soldered. Theextremity of the metal grommet is crimped about the metal lug 12 and maintains the entire assembly consisting of the insulating washer 10, the metal disk 6, 'the insulating sleeve 11 and the metal lug 12 in engagement. The socket 4 thus constitutes the grounded electrical terminal while the metal grommet 12 constitutes the other electrical terminal.

The removable stafi' light member comprises a tubular stalf light support13 acting as a body for the assembly, a lamp housing flange 14 mounted over the end of the tube 13 which is centrally positioned by a circular shouldered projection 15. A bell shaped mantle 16 is inserted at its lip 17 into an expanded bead 18 of the housing flange 14. The mantle lip 17 is retained therein by means of an expansion ring spring 17a which is inserted over the flange and which exerts expansion force against the inside of the flange 18, locking the mantle to the flange.

The' central plug-in terminal of the removablestaif light member comprises a banana plug 19 having an integral head 20 with internal thread, the plug 19 being adapted to slide into the metal grommet 12, the expandable sides thereof making positive electrical contact with the grommet. The plug head 20 engages the threaded end of a central assembly bolt 21, and as a result the banana p-lug is maintained in pressure contact with an insulating disk 22 by means of force exerted by the rod 21. The greater diameter of the disk 22 is substantially the same as that of the outer diameter of the tube '13. Part of the thickness of the disk 22 is reduced so that it enters a short distance into the tube 13 and centers the assembly. The terminal end of the central rod 21 extends through a central hole in the disk 22 in order to engage the banana plug which is screwed over the end of the rod 21, acting in conjunction with the disk 22 as a retaining means for the rod 21. The other end of the rod 21 is in the form of a round screw head 23. The rod has a dual function. First it acts as a means for holding together both the exterior terminal contact assembly and the lighting assembly on the tube 13. Its second function is that of an electrical conductor, transmitting current from the grommet 12 to the central terminal 24 of the lamp bulb 25. Immediately under the screw head 23 is a terminal lug 26, which is preferably of a material such as Phosphor-bronze. This lug acts as a connecting tenninal carrying current from the rod 21 to the central bulb terminal 24 and applying a positive spring contact thereto. A hole is provided in the lug 26 for the rod 21 to pass. Immediately below the lug 26 is an insulating washer 26a which insulates the terminal lug 26 and the rod 21 from the bulb socket 27 and centers the assembly with respect to the socket. The base of the bulb socket 27 is immediately adjacent to the insulating washer 26a andfha's a hole therethrough of sufllcient size to allow the shaft 21 to pass therethrough while preventing electrical contact with its sides. Below thebulb socket 27- name 29 having a flat upper surface and a shouldered lowersur,

face forming a collar 30. Over the collar is placed an outer terminal lug 31 which provides electrical contact between the lamp housing flange 14 and the bulb socket 3 he colla .30. exten s u her tht ush n apertur the bass of the. lamphohs hs fl n e-Y i ihh Pm id s e ec cal n u ation be a s h t e have: tsuhiha his. as-

. sm y, f an e. and t minal ce .3 nd, he cent al A e na t s s is inse t in h sla nrs ids in the tube 13 and is locked therein by the flange 14. A second P nan his :2 p ced-o er h tube 13 n s a tained n a s io hv c m re ive f rce, pr i ed y tightening t e nut and o c m nati n 3.

The art such a t e mo nt n o k t 1,1116, b a light support 13 and mounting flange are preferably constructed of a corrosion-resistant material such as alumi- The me l us f kin these pa t ho al b h y electricallysoh hs s sin s the a a o of the conductors for the electrical current supplied to the light bulb. The central rod 21 should also have good electrical conductivity since it forms the other conductor leading to the light bulb.

The removable flag staif and light combination is assembled by placing consecutively over the small end of the rod 21 the following in consecutive order: the terminal lug 26, the insulating washer 26 1, the light bulb lamp socket 27, the insulating disk 2 8,.the insulating disk 29, the lug 31 and the lamp assembly bracket 14. The pennant lug 31 is then inserted in place in the tube 13 and the rod 21 inserted through the tube 13, Over the threaded end of the rod 21 is placed the shouldered insulating disk '22, and the banana plug is screwed over the threaded end of the rod until the entire assembly is tightened in place. The other pennant lug 32 is then slid over the tube and fastened in place. The lamp bulb is inserted into its socket, the mantle 16 inserted in the flange bead 18, and the expandable wire placed over the mantle flange to hold it in place,

The bracket 1 is permanently aflixedto the boat and the wires 34 and 35 connected to a battery. To place the light in operation it is only necessary to insert the terminal end of the assembly into the socket and push it down until the banana plug 13 enters the metal grommet The curved portion 4 of the bracket 1 is contoured to provide resilient clamping pressure about the tube 13 and maintains it in firm frictional engagement. The banana plug engages the grommet 12 and provides electrical contact with one battery lead. The bracket 1 together with its curved socket 4 provides the other electrical connection through stafi 13, flange 1 and lug 36.

i The boat light herein described has a number of features which make its use advantageous. The light is easily inserted with merely a straight pushing motion requiring no further manipulation, such as screwing of fastening means. Immediate electrical contact is made upon insertion and no exterior switches which would have to be serviced periodically need be used. Good electrical contact is assured by the wiping contact that is made with resilient contacting elements as the stafi is inserted into the socket. The flag and lamp assembly are easily removed, and need not be left exposed to the elements when not in use. The mounting bracket is of rugged construction and its electrical terminals are not readily affected by the atmospheric elements. The entire combination is extremely dependable and will not fail when it is most needed. Since the entire assembly is plugged and out, the operation may be performed during cold or inclement weather with gloved hands, since there are no delicate operations to be performed. Since the light is eva ed t ates? at he sta height, t can r i 12s. s sh. at n h t r at d stan es B au of the has 2 it ss s rhsh h e sta rugged and an with: stand a great deal of mechanical abuse without deterioration, It also offers a convenient means for supporting a cemen h has inventio s c aimed fo ow 1. A combination boat light and'flag staif comprising a combined mounting bracket and socket formed from sheet metal, said socket being substantially cylindrical and formed by the involution of a portion of said sheet metal, and means for mounting the same on a surface, said socket having an electrical terminal positioned therein and electrically insulated therefrom; and a demountable stalf member comprising a metallic tube one end of which is dimensioned to be inserted into said socket in positive friction clamping engagement therewith, said tube end having aflixed therein and electrically insulated therefrom a radially resilient electrical terminal adapted to engage the insulated terminal of said socket, both said terminals being arranged to co-act by axial movement only of said tube in said socket, a lamp bulb socket mounted at the other end of said metallic tube, one rm n l 9 s id u b s skst be n s a y connected to said tube, and an electgical conductor mounted within said tube and insulated therefrom connecting the other said sheet metal, and means for mounting the same on r a surface, said socket having an electrical terminal positioned therein and electrically insulated therefrom and a demountable staif member comprising a metallic tube one end of which is dimensioned to be inserted into said socket in positive friction clamping engagement there.- with, said tube end having aflixed therein and electrically insulated therefrom a radially resilient electrical terminal adapted to engage the insulated terminal of said socket, both said terminals being arranged to. co-act by axial movement only of said tube in said socket, a lamp assembly mounted at the other end of said metallic tube comprising a mantle flange, a lamp bulb socket centrally positioned within said flange having one terminal connected to said metallic tube, a lamp bulb engaged in said socket, and a light-transmitting mantle enclosing said lamp bulb and having its lip engaged in said mantle flange, an electrical conductor mounted within said tube and insulated therefrom connecting the other terminal of said bulb socket with the electrical terminal at the opposite end of said tube, whereby said boat light :may be electrically connected and rigidly mounted by pushing said staflf member axially and Without rotation into said socket, and disconnected and removed from said socket by pulling said staff member axially and without rotation out from said socket.

3. A combination boat light and flag stalf comprising a combined mounting bracket and socket formed from resilient sheet metal, said socket being substantially cylindrical and formed by the involution of a portion of said sheet metal, and means for mounting the same on a surface, said socket having an electrical terminal positioned therein and electrically insulated therefrom; and a demountable staff member comprising a metallic tube one end of which is dimensioned to be inserted into said socket in positive resilient friction clamping engagement therewith, said tube end having hffihhtl the e n nd elec r a insulated therefrom a radia es l ent lec cal erm n a p to en he nsul e termina f: ai ocket, both sa rm nal e n arran ed. o ches by a ia m m nl said tube in said socket, a lamp assembly mounted at the other end of said metallic tube comprising a mantle flange, a. lamp. bulb socket centrally positioned within said flange having one terminal connected to said metallic tube, a lamp bulb engaged in said socket, and a light-transmitting mantle enclosing said lamp bulb and having its lip engaged in said mantle flange, and a metallic rod mounted within said tube and insulated therefrom connecting the other terminal of said lamp bulb socket with the electrical terminal at the opposite end of said tube and securing said electrical terminal and said lamp assembly to said metallic tube, whereby said boat light may be electrically connected and rigidly mounted by pushing said stall member axially and without rotation into said socket and disconnected and removed from said socket by pulling said staff member axially and without rotation out from said socket.

4. A combination boat light and flag staff comprising a combined mounting bracket and socket formed from resilient sheet metal, said socket being substantially cylindrical and formed by the involution of a portion of said sheet metal, and means for mounting the same on a surface, said socket having an electrical terminal positioned axially therein, said socket and electrical terminal together forming a coaxial electrical connection; and a demountable staff member comprising a metallic tube one end of which is dimensioned to be inserted into said socket in positive resilient friction clamping engagement therewith, said tube end having coaxially mounted therewith and electrically insulated therefrom a radially resilient electrical terminal, said tube end and said electrical terminal forming a coaxial plug adapted to engage the coaxial electrical connection of said socket, both said coaxial terminals being arranged to coact by axial movement only of said tube in said socket, a lamp bulb socket mounted at the other end of said metallic tube, one terminal of said bulb socket being electrically connected to said tube, and an electrical conductor mounted within said tube and insulated therefrom connecting the other terminal of said bulb socket with the electrical terminal at the opposite end of said bulb, whereby said boat light may be electrically connected and rigidly mounted by pushing said staff member axially and without rotation into said socket and disconnected and removed from said socket by pulling said staff member axially and without rotation out from said socket.

5. A combination boat light and flag stafi according to claim 4 wherein the length of said mounting socket is at least three times its internal diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,403 Foute Feb. 13, 1940 2,297,916 Sauer Oct. 6, 1942 2,713,671 Hunt July 19, 1955 2,791,678 Ferman May 7, 1957 

